Eloy Casagrande just got a major promotion. The Brazilian drummer best known for his work in Sepultura was officially named the new member of Slipknot on April 30. But how did this come to be? In a recently translated interview with VEJA São Paulo, Casagrande shared his journey to become a part of metal’s most iconic outfit.
The drummer first noted that he was approached by the band’s manager in December and ultimately spent ten full days in Palm Springs with the band rehearsing and recording. Slipknot “wanted to test me in every way,” Casagrande said. This included auditioning him with a list of 32 songs.
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After finding out he passed all their tests in February, he had to begin prepping for his first Slipknot show, a smaller performance on April 25. Though, Casagrande felt “lucky” he could have his wide along for the ride.
“The first big change when wearing a mask is mental. It’s another persona in there. The mask has life. If someone else puts it on, it won’t be the same,” he shared in the interview. “I created it together with Shawn, we worked out the design together, so it’s a combination of Slipknot and my personality. But when you put the mask on, something different happens.”
On Instagram, Casagrande said, “It’s an exciting moment. Unthinkable until then. There is nothing to lose, there is nothing to win. There is just living. We’re here as one. Thank you Slipknot for trusting me. Thanks all the maggots and fans around the world.”
In August, the band will be heading out on a 25th anniversary tour with Vended, Knocked Loose, and Orbit Culture. General public tickets for the Here Comes The Pain Tour will be available this Friday, May 3, at 10 AM local time. Check out their full touring schedule below and purchase tickets here.
Tour Dates:
- May 19—Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Festival
- Aug. 6—Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center *
- Aug. 7—Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake *
- Aug. 9—Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena *
- Aug. 10—Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion *
- Aug. 12—New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden *
- Aug. 14—Gilford, NH @ BankNH Pavilion *
- Aug. 15—Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center *
- Aug. 17—Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena *
- Sept. 1—Pryor, OK @ ROCKLAHOMA
- Sept. 7—Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre ^
- Sept. 8—Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Styles Resorts Amphitheater ^
- Sept. 9—Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
- Sept. 11—Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater ^
- Sept. 13—Inglewood, CA @ Intuit Dome ^
- Sept. 15—Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre ^
- Sept. 17—Austin, TX @ Moody Center ^
- Sept. 18—Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion ^
- Sept. 21—Des Moines, IA @ Knotfest Iowa at Waterworks Park ^
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- Oct. 11—Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
- Oct. 19—São Paulo, BR @ Knotfest Brasil
- Nov. 8—Guadalajara, MX @ Calle 2
- Nov. 9—Mexico City, MX @ Parque Bicentenario
- Dec. 5—Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
- Dec. 6—Dortmund, DE @ Westfalehallen
- Dec. 8—Stuttgart, DE @ Schleyerhalle
- Dec. 9—Leipzig, DE @ Quarterback Immobilien Arena
- Dec. 11—Zürich, CH @ Hallenstadion
- Dec. 12—Paris, FR @ Accor Arena
- Dec. 14—Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
- Dec. 15—Glasgow, UK @ Ovo Hydro
- Dec. 17—Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
- Dec. 18—Birmingham, UK @ Utilita Arena
- Dec. 20—London, UK @ The O2
- Dec. 21—London, UK @ The O2
* Knocked Loose and Orbit Culture as support.
^ Knocked Loose and Vended as support.